![]() ![]() ![]() We can reflect and meditate anytime in order to inspect our values. Our mind is an inherent part of us and its contents are present to us at any moment. Stoics believed that virtue depends on knowing our own nature. This focus on negative emotions is why Stoics insisted on meditations and reminders of what lies in our power and what lies outside our power. Stoics did not agree with this part of Socrates’ philosophy, because Socrates did not include the nature of emotional states that can cloud our judgement. If we know what is good, it will result in doing good. However, by following Socrates’ equation, we will discover that virtue can be learned. This is the first notion that is compatible with Stoic belief, as they similarly believed virtue exists within us. If virtue equals knowledge, then the place where virtue can be found is within ourselves. Therefore, humans only make mistakes out of ignorance. If we know that something is good, then we will act accordingly. Socrates believed that virtue equals knowledge. ![]() ![]() For this matter, we need to re-examine the basics of Socrates’ philosophy in order to compare it to Stoicism, and deduce what Socrates’ attitude might be towards it. It is evident that Stoic philosophers thought highly of Socrates however, it is difficult to guess what Socrates would have thought about Stoicism. In addition, Marcus Aurelius also mentioned Socrates several times in his Meditations. In Epictetus’ Discourses, he referred to Socrates more than any other philosopher, mentioning Socrates a total of 77 times. Socrates became a role model for Zeno to follow, which ultimately influenced Zeno’s philosophical beliefs.Įven in the late Roman period of Stoicism, Socrates’ influence did not fade. Zeno of Citium, the founder of the Stoic school of thought, had read about Socrates through Xenophon’s Memorabilia. Socrates’ influence had deep roots in the foundation of Stoic philosophy. We will take a look at the topics Socrates and Stoic philosophies would agree and disagree on. Socrates’ philosophy influenced Stoicism in many ways, although they would not have agreed on everything. ![]()
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